If the 2013-2014 school year wasn’t the best-ever for Legacy athletics, it has to rank pretty high on the list.

The Broncos’ march to the regional finals in baseball last month capped a year that saw no fewer than four programs log their furthest postseason runs since the school opened in 2007.

It all started back in September, when the football team shot out of the gates with a 6-0 record en route to a second-place finish in District 15-4A. The Broncos proceeded to advance to the regional round – a feat no Legacy football team had accomplished before.

While that was going on, the girls cross country team won its region to earn the school’s first-ever berth in the state meet. The team finished fourth – just seconds off the podium – for another Legacy milestone.

“I really, really enjoyed watching all the teams go so far,” athletics coordinator and head football coach Chris Melson said.

Melson felt the 2013-2014 season was potentially rivaled only by the 2009-2010 school year for athletic achievement.

In addition to the football and cross country teams, boys golf and baseball set new high-water marks. The boys golf team advanced all the way to the state tournament, ultimately finishing eighth. As mentioned, the baseball team came up one round shy of the state tournament.

It’s also notable that Legacy earned its first-ever state gold medal in swimming, when freshman Haley Yelle finished first in the 200-meter freestyle. She also took silver in the 500-meter freestyle.

A number of other teams advanced to the playoffs, including volleyball, softball and girls soccer.

So, was this season just a case of an amazing class? Or is this the results of a program that has been steadily building on its foundation for almost a decade?

“It’s probably a combination,” Melson said. “This class is really special. The best players on most teams were seniors.”

Melson was quick to point out that a lot of the credit should be extended not only to the players and the coaching staff, but also to the parents of the athletes. He says the parents have bought in to the program at Legacy and understand the commitments required for success.

Melson also feels this season can be an important step in setting the bar for expectations, and is a believer in the notion that success breeds success.

“I think there’s a lot of truth to that,” he explained. “When the younger kids see those varsity teams and how hard they’ve worked and how they’ve come together, and how far they’ve gone, they want to work to have that success.

“I really, honestly think we can go even further,” he added.

Athletic success isn’t just confined to the courts and fields, either. Coaches and players contend that when sports teams are performing well, the good feelings reverberate throughout the halls and the entire student body.

Melson brought up another moment from the school year that he said exemplifies the “family” atmosphere that Legacy has built on its campus – when a number of athletes traveled together to watch the band perform at its UIL competition.

“There’s a lot of school pride, and to walk around proud to be a Legacy Bronco,” Melson said. “It doesn’t matter what team you’re playing on or what sport you’re playing.”